Brazil Sports Coaching and Community Outreach Work

Embrace the passion and zest of Brazil when you visit this country of aching beauty and exotic wildlife. Relax on the beaches of Rio de Janeiro where locals and tourists alike bathe and surf in the warm waters and soak up the scintillating night life. Brazil is without a doubt one of the most bewitching destinations for those on a gap year or year out; it offers vibrant culture with great opportunities to assist worthwhile community development and conservation programmes.

Brazil's favelas are home to thousands of underprivileged children threatened by poverty and inequality. With little hope of education or help, children grow up resorting to crime or selling cheap goods on the street to survive. As a Frontier volunteer you will bring much-needed help to these slum communities, teaching and helping with development projects and community outreach work.

PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS

• Experience Brazil's natural sporting prowess
• Give encouragement and direction to the children of the favelas
• Explore this South American jewel

PROJECT REQUIREMENTS

• Minimum age 18 years
• Basic Portuguese recommended
• All participants need to bring a copy of a Criminal Record background check with them to the project site.

What Next? Apply Now!

WHAT DOES THE PROJECT DO?

At just about every corner of Rio de Janeiro, you will find the locals playing Brazil’s national sport: futebol. Sports and athletics have become vital for Rio’s lowest income communities, as they provide children and adolescents with recreational outlets in areas that offer young people very few options for entertainment. Through this Sports and Community Work project you can be a part of the team as a volunteer, helping to provide encouragement and stability, not to mention goals and direction, for the young inhabitants of the challenging favelas of Rio.

The main goal of the project is to guarantee the surrounding communities’ kids and teenagers rights to a fulfilling and culturally rich life. This goal can be reached through a range of methods, including health promotion activities and its repercussions in people’s lives, artistic and sports activities as an important factor in the social education young people must be a part of, and IT training in order to assure an understanding of current technological advancements. Families of the youngsters are also included in the process by means of regular meetings and the results are wide reaching and have an impact in the community as a whole.

WHAT WILL I BE DOING?

Sports have become an essential part of favela life, especially for children and adolescents. Because there are so few entertainment options for the youth in low income communities, kids unfortunately get caught up in illegal activity to pass the time. That’s why athletic programming has become a vital outlet for children, because it provides them with friendly competition in a safe and fun environment, and more often that not sports programmes are almost always powered by volunteers. By no means do you have to be a sports star to participate in sports programmes, but a little talent goes a long way! With sports including capoeira, football, basketball, and many others, you're sure to be able to put your experience and interests to good use.

Whatever your personal interests, you will work with the local coordinators to design and implement a programme structure that will provide the greatest benefit to both yourself and, even more importantly, the young people you will be working with. Nothing can prepare you for the feeling of watching your hard work and commitment pay off and you will find yourself very quickly becoming an integral and important part of the children's lives, so much so that leaving will be the hardest part.

What Next? Apply Now!

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN I ARRIVE?

You'll fly to Rio de Janeiro, where you'll be picked up by a friendly member of the in-country staff and transported to your accommodation. You will receive orientation and local information in your first few days before starting the project.

WHERE WILL I BE STAYING?

You will be accommodated in one of a number of volunteer guesthouses located close to the project's main office. Sharing a room with other volunteers, students or travellers you will have access to a kitchen, bathroom, and living area. A laundry service is also available.

WHAT WILL I BE EATING?

A great aspect of this amazing project is that it is self-catering. This is a fun element of travelling away from home and a good opportunity to bond with your fellow travellers. You may also wish to explore local restaurants and market stalls. The locals tend to eat late so head out for an evening meal after 9pm if you want to avoid the tourists! Your accommodation has a kitchen with cookers, food lockers and refrigerators and there is a 24-hour grocery store one block from the accommodation in Rio. About $50 per week should be sufficient for basic diets but make sure you take a bit extra for treats and luxuries!

HOW WILL I GET TO WORK?

Transport to and from the project sites is not included but the cost is minimal. The journey could take anything up to an hour, but when you first arrive you will be given orientation and guidance on the best way to make your way around.

What Next? Apply Now!

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ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES

A range of adventure and cultural activities like visits to central Rio and to surrounding beaches are available. Ask your local project staff to recommend local providers.